Month: March 2010

  • Assemblymember Jerry Hill – Saturday Coffee

    When Jerry Hill held a morning coffee for the public a few months ago, many were disappointed that it was scheduled at a difficult time to attend – 7:30 on a weekday morning.  Now here is our chance to meet with Assemblymember Hill and ensure that he understands our concerns about the impact of High-Speed Rail on the Burlingame community, this Saturday at Il Piccolo Caffe on Broadway!

    Java with Jerry
    Saturday, March 20
    7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
    Il Piccolo Caffe, 1219 Broadway, Burlingame
    (Located between Paloma and Laguna avenues)

    Please join me for a cup of coffee and conversation. Bring your ideas, questions and concerns about legislative issues affecting the community. You are welcome to sit down and stay a while or just drop in for a brief chat.

  • High Cost Rail – Part 4

    Tonight the City Council alloted funds for technical support and community education on High Cost Rail.  The $160,000 for outside expertise on technical impacts and CEQA plus $25,000 for public outreach are just a start.  Today's Daily Journal article characterized $425,000 as "costly", but one really has to ask "Costly compared to what?"  If the High Cost Rail Authority takes a bunch of commercial property that generates tax revenue for the city, $160K will look cheap.  If the High Cost Rail Authority ruins the ambience of both shopping districts in town, $160K will look really cheap.  If you can't hear yourself think within four blocks of the railroad tracks because of the high.jpgtched whine of a 120 mph train blowing through every four minutes, $160K will look like peanuts.  If the $60 Billion dollars it will cost to build the project then loses a couple of $100 million a year of taxpayer monies, you won't even notice $160K as you write the check year after year.

  • BHS Alums Play Ball

    With some expert groundskeeping after the rain yesterday, the second annual Burlingame High alumni baseball tourney was played at Washington Park today.  The old timers from the Class of '89 and earlier played to a 5-5 tie in the first game.  The younger alums, with a strong contingent from last year's varsity returning from colleges, played to another 5-5 tie with the Class of '90s team.  Current BHS varsity assistant coach Eric Nuss ('92) looked good in 3 innings on the mound and Dan Pasiecznik ('76) hit the ball well.

    Congrats to Rusty Knudsen ('74), Assistant varsity coach Joe McKane and all the alums for a great day on the field. 

    BHS Alumni2_2010

  • Safeway Part 57 Construction

    With demolition scheduled to start in June, it seems the construction trades will be stepping up their picketing of Safeway.  Last month's protest was on the corner and now there are five guys in front of the entrance.  I hear the plans call for the exterior of the building to be complete by Thanksgiving.  We'll see.

    Safeway union protest2

  • More Illegal Signs

    Here is another easy enforcement issue.

    Illegal signs

  • Caltrain – Eminent Domain

    As we await the alternative analysis on High-cost Rail and what that means for eminent domain takings of properties along the rail right-of-way, here is a report from the San Mateo County Times on SAMTRANS takings for regular old Caltrain upgrades.

    SAN CARLOS — Transit officials voted Tuesday to use eminent domain to take portions of land from several San Bruno property owners in order to make way for a new Caltrain station and rail bridges.

    It goes on to note:

    Under eminent domain, authorities are allowed to take an owner's land as long as certain conditions are met, such as showing the acquisition of a piece of property is necessary for a project to happen. In this case, Caltrain needs some parcels to serve as a staging ground for construction, while others will be part of the project itself.

    Eminent domain usually comes after negotiations have stalled, San Mateo-based attorney Andy Turner, a specialist in the field, said Tuesday in a phone interview.

    At the end of the eminent domain process, owners are entitled to receive fair market value for the land taken. But property owners can contest in court both the seizure of their property and the amount of money they get. It's not clear in this case how much cash authorities have offered to the owners.

    I continue to hear rumors that some property owners in towns south of us have gotten some early notice.  Anyone have any confirmed news?

  • Parcel Tax – Community Colleges

    From today's San Mateo Daily Journal comes word of a new parcel tax for the 220,000 parcels in the County:

    Residents countywide will be asked to consider a $34 annual parcel tax to support three community colleges in June after the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees voted unanimously last night to seek the measure.

    On Wednesday, the San Mateo County Community College Board of Trustees unanimously supported placing a four-year, $34 annual parcel tax on a special June 8 ballot. Such a measure could generate about $6 million annually for the district, said District CFO Kathy Blackwood. It requires two-thirds approval to pass.

  • F.A.R. and Near – Part 1

    The annual joint City Council-Planning Commission meeting on Saturday yielded some unexpected direction on where Burlingame's Floor Area Ratio (FAR) section of the planning code should go.  I could only attend for a couple minutes and didn't hear the public comments or the staff direction so if you were there, please add your impressions.

    Here are the current calculation methods from the City's web site:

    The second measurement is Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.). This calculation takes into account the total living area. Our measurements are taken from outside wall to outside wall and include garages. Please refer to the F.A.R. definition. The maximum floor area you are allowed on your lot is determined by one of the following formulas:

    INTERIOR LOT WITH ATTACHED GARAGE
    F.A.R. =.32 X LOT AREA +1,100 SF

    INTERIOR LOT WITH DETACHED GARAGE
    F.A.R. =.32 X LOT AREA +1,100 SF UP TO 400 SF IN A DETACHED GARAGE.

    CORNER LOT WITH ATTACHED GARAGE
    F.A.R. = .32 X LOT AREA + 900 SF

    CORNER LOT WITH DETACHED GARAGE
    F.A.R = .32 X LOT AREA +900 SF + UP TO 350 SF IN DETACHED GARAGE 

    and here is a photo of Saturday's meeting

    Council Planning 0310

  • Street Art on Primrose and at Mills

    By popular demand here is a new photo showing the additions to the Pegasus statue on Primrose Ave.  Thanks for the 53 comments and counting.  Yes, I do know that it's not Pegasus since the wings are on the woman, not the horse but the name has stuck around town.

    Pegasus w plantings

    At the Saturday joint City Council and Planning Commission meeting some direction was given to staff and the Commission to investigate putting some restrictions in place for street art.  The direction did not go down the censorship dead end, but rather focused on size, height and setback.

    On another street art note, Mills-Peninsula Hospital is looking for public input on which piece of art to put on the corner of the new hospital property.  If you go into the Main Library you will see three perspectives each on two pieces of art.  They are seeking comment on whether you prefer "The Muse and the Listener" or "Ode to Joy".  I'm glad they are asking.  Here is the display, but you should go in for a full view.

    Hospital art vote

  • Trees Vs. High Speed Rail? Trees lose.

    Euc's on California Dr
    This from today’s Daily Post.
    Their source are maps provided by The High Speed Rail Authority.

    Beginning in San Francisco, it
    appears Caltrain has
    more than enough right of way
    for the new train until
    Broadway in Burlingame. The
    railroad has enough
    right of way there, but to
    accommodate four sets of
    tracks, the eucalyptus
    trees outside Burlingame High
    School will have to go.
    The right of way narrows to 75
    feet farther south
    where the car dealers are
    located. It appears as many
    as three commercial buildings
    will have to go in order
    to give the railroad the
    minimum 85 feet width.

     

    This is the latest news from
    The Authority. It begs the question, “ What happened to community input?"

    There
    has been lots of talk from the authority about community outreach, context
    sensitive solutions, etc. But here we are reading in the local news how
    Burlingame’s landscape—both physically and economically will change forever and
    we have yet to be asked for our opinion—we have given it—but who is listening?
    Apparently, no one.

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